Break Free™

What happens when your pursuit of entrepreneurial freedom turns into an all-consuming trap? In this episode of the Break Free Podcast , David Mansilla is joined by Morgan E. Nichols, CFP®, APMA™, CRPC™, BFA™, Private Wealth Advisor and CEO of LifeBranch Wealth Partners. Together, they share raw, personal stories of early business failure, the dangers of workaholism, and the critical turning point...

How do you grow an 11-person grassroots agency into a $12M statewide organization providing lifesaving supportive housing and victim services? In this inspiring episode of the Break Free Podcast, host David Mansilla sits down with Vanessa Volz, J.D., President and CEO of Sojourner House. Together, they explore the intersection of business discipline, empathy, servant leadership, and social justice...

What does it really take to walk away from a safe career path, face down startup debt, and build a business that gives you total freedom over your time? In this episode of the Break Free Podcast, David Mansilla interviews Michael Garry, owner of Yardley Wealth Management. Michael shares his powerful journey from working as an attorney to stepping out on his own as a fee-only financial advisor and...

Welcome back to the Break Free Podcast! In Part 2 of this powerful conversation, host David Mansilla sits down with Gary Pinkerton, former US Naval Academy graduate, nuclear submarine officer, and seasoned entrepreneur, to dive deep into financial agency, business leadership, and wealth protection.  After losing half his net worth in the Great Recession by trusting traditional financial...

How does a former nuclear submarine commander transition from decades of high-stakes military discipline to building lasting wealth and leading a purpose-driven business? In this powerful episode of the Break Free Podcast, host David Mansilla sits down with Navy veteran and financial strategist Gary Pinkerton! Gary shares his deep personal journey—from serving almost 30 years in the US Navy t...

Why does achieving business success often bring more chaos instead of freedom? In this episode of the Break Free Podcast , host David Mansilla interviews Courtney De Ronde —a veteran CPA, Managing Partner, and business consultant who created the Simple ScaleUp System. Courtney shares her journey of building scalable frameworks that simplify operations, boost retention, and drive long-term profitab...

Welcome to another inspiring episode of the Break Free Podcast! Host David Mansilla sits down with Juan Valerio, CFO-turned-CEO, to dive deep into the real-world realities of executive leadership, business strategy, and legacy building.  Juan shares his incredible transition from advisory consulting to steering a 30-year-old food manufacturing and distribution power enterprise. Together, Davi...

In this episode of the Break Free Podcast, host David Mansilla welcomes Jeff Panik, founder of Balance Wealth Partners, CFP®, author, and U.S. Army veteran. With over 26 years of experience in the financial services industry, Jeff shares his battle-tested strategies for overcoming debt, mastering compound growth, and building a business that aligns with personal happiness and long-term peace. Whet...

Welcome to another powerful episode of the Break Free Podcast! In this episode, host David Mansilla is joined by Jason Umidi—an author, recovery coach, former international construction project manager, and the current owner of Metemporium, a thriving durable medical equipment store in Chesapeake, Virginia. Jason opens up about his dramatic transition at age 57 from corporate security to small bus...

Welcome to another powerful episode of the Break Free Podcast with your host, David Mansilla! Today, we are shining a light on a visionary leader who is radically disrupting the mental health system. Dr. Tamir Aldad is a trained addiction psychiatrist who chose to step away from a comfortable one-on-one private practice, head to business school at the University of Chicago, and build a massive, da...

What is the true cost of success? In this deeply moving and transparent episode of the Break Free Podcast, host David Mansilla sits down with Robert Greene, a holistic trauma counselor based in Bali, Indonesia. Together, they pull back the curtain on a silent crisis affecting countless entrepreneurs, veterans, and high-stress professionals: unhealed psychological trauma. Robert shares his intense...

Welcome to another high-impact episode of the Break Free Podcast! In this episode, host David Mansilla is joined by Natalia Zacharin, the founder and CEO of Zacharin Consulting, a nationwide firm specializing in bookkeeping, payroll, and elite fractional CFO services. Building a business is arguably the hardest thing you will ever do in your life. It exposes every single one of your strengths and...

Welcome to the Break Free Podcast! In this deep dive, host David Mansilla interviews Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak , the President and CEO of the International Food Information Council (IFIC) . Wendy’s journey is a masterclass in long-term career architecture—starting as an intern, leaving to gain "street cred" in the corporate world, and returning to lead the organization at the highest level. This conv...

In this powerful episode of the Break Free Podcast, host David Mansilla welcomes Udo Erasmus, a world-renowned authority on healthy fats and the creator of Udo’s Choice. After suffering from pesticide poisoning, Udo dedicated his life to uncovering the truth about nutritional health and the spiritual nature of human existence. Udo’s journey is a masterclass in purpose-driven leadership. He shares...

Building a business is a grind, but are you building a foundation or just chasing a paycheck? In this episode, Perry Braun (President & CEO of Benefit Advisors Network) joins David Mansilla to discuss the raw reality of leadership and why "patience" is the most underrated skill in entrepreneurship. With nearly 40 years of experience, Perry explains how he transitioned from an executive role to...

What happens when a high-level corporate executive chooses the "trenches" over the corner office? In this golden nugget from the Break Free Podcast, Esmerelde Lee shares her incredible journey. Esmerelde Lee moved from South Africa to the U.S. and completely redefined what it means to lead. After facing immense personal loss, she found a way to bridge the gap between seniors, caregivers, and famil...

Success without fulfillment is the ultimate entrepreneurial struggle. In this episode, David Mansilla welcomes Paddi Rice, the Founder and CEO of Executive Search Dating, to discuss the intersection of high-level business strategy and the fundamental human need for relationship. Paddi shares how his background in Fortune 500 companies and manufacturing led him to innovate the matchmaking industry...

"What is this challenge preparing me for?" In this focused "Golden Nuggets" highlight, we dive into the most powerful moments from our conversation with David Cooks, CEO of David Cooks Enterprises. David has spent over 40 years in a wheelchair, but his greatest test came this past year: a broken femur, a battle with E. coli, and a life-saving surgery performed by—miraculously—a former student. We’...

Does AI already know your password? 🤖🔒 Your identity is your most valuable asset, yet it's being sold for pennies on the dark web. In this critical episode, CEO Eva Velasquez reveals why even savvy entrepreneurs are vulnerable to id theft and the one frozen secret that could safeguard your life's work. She discusses the dangers of AI tools in perpetrating identity fraud and the crucial role of r...

Join host David Mansilla and Freestar CEO Kurt Donnell for an unscripted, powerful conversation about the true cost of success and the non-linear path to the top. Kurt Donnell breaks down the complex world of digital ad monetization, revealing how his company runs over a billion ad auctions daily—operating like a high-frequency trading firm in the ad space. What You Will Learn: The Ad Tech Black B...

In this episode of the Break Free Podcast, David Mansilla interviews Matt Clark, President and CEO of Core Centric, a global leader in Procurement, Accounts Payable, and Accounts Receivable solutions. Matt shares his incredible 20+ year journey rising from an early role to the top leadership position at the financial technology company. Key Takeaways You'll Learn: (1) Removing Friction in B2B: How...

Join David Mansilla as he interviews Ron Felix, the CEO and President of Moeller Aerospace, a company that manufactures high-precision components for gas turbine engines in commercial, military, and space applications. Ron shares his incredible 40-year journey in aerospace and the unique challenges of leading a company built on 100% reliability . Discover the leadership mindset required to thrive...

Are you ready to take your podcasting game to the next level? 🎙️ In this episode, we sit down with Paul Colligan—a true pioneer in the podcasting space, author, and entrepreneur—who has been shaping the industry since 2004. Paul shares powerful lessons on how to thrive in today’s fast-changing digital world: ✅ Lesson #1: The Right Kind of Pressure Will Move You into Action Discover how setting at...

In this inspiring episode of the Break Free Podcast , host David Mansilla sits down with Moshe Popack , a third-generation real estate investor who turned one of the worst economic downturns into the foundation of a thriving real estate empire. From buying foreclosures at rock-bottom prices to building a portfolio of over 5,000 multi-family units and 1.3 million square feet of commercial space , M...

In this episode of the Break Free Podcast , host David Mansilla sits down with Lavelle E. Bridges , Founder and CEO of London Bridge Group , to unpack five decades of wisdom from a career built on excellence, resilience, and strategic leadership. With over 50 years of experience in tax, business consulting, and entrepreneurship, Lavelle shares how he built and sustained a thriving financial firm,...